Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Police name rider, 24, after fatal collision in Sandys

A police photograph of the scene at Middle Road, Sandys where a 24-year-old motorcyclist died in a collision. (Photograph supplied)

Police yesterday identified a 24-year-old man who lost his life after a crash on Tuesday evening in Sandys.

Romario Simons was seriously injured after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a sports utility vehicle on Middle Road near the junction with Overplus Lane, Sandys at about 6pm.

Police initially said it appeared the vehicles were travelling in opposite directions when the male SUV driver attempted a right hand turn on to Overplus Lane.

A police spokesman said the male motorcyclist was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the collision occurred.

The rider was treated by EMTs at the scene and rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where life-saving efforts continued, but did not survive.

It marks the tenth road death of the year. There were 17 in 2021.

Police said a family liaison officer was supporting Mr Simons’s loved ones while the roads policing unit investigated the circumstances of the crash.

The Minister of National Security Michael Weeks said: “The death of Romario Simons, a young man in the prime of his life, is truly alarming and tragic.

“My deepest sympathies are with his family and friends. I ask that you also keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.”

Jamahl Simmons, the PLP MP for Sandys South where the crash took place, said: “My family and I were deeply saddened to hear of this tragedy.

“At this time, we pray for the family and for all who knew and loved this young man.”

Michael Dunkley, the Shadow National Security Minister, offered sympathies to Mr Simons’s family and said the community should “reflect on a grieving family and do our best to make our roads better”.

“On behalf of myself, my colleagues and the people of Bermuda, condolences to the family of this young man who tragically lost his life on our roads.

“These are very difficult at any time, but certainly during the holiday season when people are focused on family, friends and joy, this is very, very tough. We send his family our condolences and blessings.”

Mr Dunkley added: “It is very clear over the past number of years, with the amount of traffic on our roads and the speeds too, that many road users lack attention to the rules of the road. We have too frequent accidents and way too many road deaths for a small country.”

He said dangerous driving left too many “cautious and apprehensive” about venturing out – from young learners to seniors left in fear of using the roads.

“We have visitors who come here and remark how bad our driving standards are,” he said.

“Police can patrol, stop drunk-driving and give out tickets for speeding – but it is all in our hands.

“If we are more responsible, we will have less people in accidents and less people losing their lives.”

Other road fatalities in 2022

March 11: An infant dies after the car in which he was a passenger ploughed through safety barriers and into the water at Shark Hole in Hamilton Parish.

March 25: Hannah Jimenez-Flood, 42, dies in a single-vehicle crash on Beacon Hill in Sandys.

March 26: Wayne Augustus, 51, is killed in a crash near Church Bay in Southampton in the early hours.

April 14: Jason Lee, 29, dies in a two-vehicle crash on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish

April 24: Freddy Hall, 37, dies in a car crash in St George’s. Mr Hall was able to continue driving after the incident, but paramedics were called to the scene shortly after he arrived home. He succumbed to his injuries.

May 22: Robert Hudson, 52, is killed in a single-vehicle crash on Cut Road in St. George after hitting a wall and a parked car.

July 20: Jahmel Blakeney, 40, is killed after a crash involving three vehicles on Middle Road in Devonshire.

July 28: Troni Aisha Robinson-Burgess, 22, dies after two motorbikes collided on South Shore Road in Southampton.

December 4: Malston Iris, 71, dies after being hit by a minibus on King Street two days earlier.

Any witnesses that have not already come forward, or members of the public with any information, are encouraged to contact Pc Jason Ming at the RPU office on 247-1788, directly on 717-0862 or via e-mail jming@bps.bm as soon as possible.